The photographer behind the exhibit, Yu Huiping, claimed the photos offer a peek at “primitive life” in Africa by juxtaposing humans with nature, according to Shanghaist. He has visited Africa more than 20 times over the past decade.

Other photos in the series include an African man bearing his teeth next to a lion. An elderly man is also shown next to a monkey.

Before viewers complained about the photos, the president of the prestigious China Photographic Publishing House, praised the photographer for “capturing the vitality of primitive life,” in a since-deleted social media post, according to the Washington Post.

Africans face blatant racism in China, according to the paper. Last year, a Chinese detergent TV commercial showed an African man being transformed by a washing machine into a fresh-faced Chinese man, sparking international outrage.